05/25/2026
Today is Memorial Day. A day to remember. A day to honor. 🇺🇸
These telegrams hang on my office wall as a constant reminder of my family’s service — and of the sacrifices made by so many families who were not as fortunate as ours.
I read them often, especially on days when I think I’m having a hard day. Every single time, my perspective shifts back to pure gratitude.
1️⃣ A telegram sent to my grandfather a few months before he was shipped to France during WWII:
“Mother is dead. Be brave. Others are well.”
— Signed by my great-grandfather
2️⃣ My grandfather was in the second wave to storm the beaches of Normandy… and he survived.
This telegram was later sent to my grandmother, informing her that my grandfather had been seriously injured by a N**i gr***de that October.
By the grace of God, my grandfather made it home. Many of his friends did not.
As wars and conflicts continue across generations, many of my own friends have now experienced that same heartbreak and sacrifice within their own families.
To the families currently sending their children overseas — including those preparing for Iran as we speak — my thoughts and prayers are with you.
This Memorial Day, no matter how many brats or steaks we sell this weekend, my greatest reflection will always be gratitude and honor for the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. 🇺🇸
We remember them today — and every day.
